APRILIA REJECTS JORGE MARTIN REQUEST TO TEST AUSTRIA PIRELLI 2027 PROTOTYPE

Jorge Martin was absent from the Pirelli test in Austria on Monday after an apparent request to take part was turned down. The session offered riders involved in the programme a chance to get mileage on the 2027 MotoGP machinery: 850cc engines paired with reduced aerodynamics and electronics, plus the opportunity to adapt to Pirelli’s tyres ahead of the brand replacing Michelin at the end of next year.

According to the reporting, 12 riders were not present. Nicolo Bulega was out due to injury, while a larger group—including Martin, Fabio Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Ai Ogura, Alex Marquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini—were locked out because they are due to switch manufacturers. Joan Mir also missed Austria through injury, and the article notes it was unlikely Honda would have invited him given his Gresini move. Moto2 graduates Senna Agius and Izan Guevara did take part, but David Alonso and Daniel Holgado were absent.

The key controversy centred on Martin’s attempt to test the Aprilia prototype. The piece says that, while Quartararo’s situation was handled differently, both cases reflected the same principle: teams were reluctant to let riders who are leaving test their future rivals’ hardware. Valentin Khorounzhiy, via a podcast, explained that Yamaha told Quartararo it was “totally normal practice not to have a wantaway rider testing the prototype,” adding that the bike would instead be used by Toprak Razgatlioglu and newly confirmed 2027 rookie Izan Guevara. Khorounzhiy said the message was that “They can’t have Jorge Martin test – he’s under contract at Aprilia, and they can’t have Ai Ogura test – he’s under contract at Trackhouse, so they will test the other two members of their 2027 line-up.”

The report also claims that Motorsport.com had mentioned Martin making a similar request to Aprilia for the 850 bike, and that he was told—“to jog on.” In the end, Aprilia’s representation at the test came from Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez, with Lorenzo Savadori also contributing. Martin’s absence means he will not get the same early 2027 development and tyre learning that the participating riders did.

The article notes that many of the 12 riders who missed Austria are expected to wait until the post-season test in Valencia to try the Pirelli tyres. It adds that, although they would still be under contract at that point, an amnesty is likely to be granted.